Not many footballers have the ability to upstage the incomparable Pelé, but it appears Cristiano Ronaldo can, as both players star in a clever new TV advertisement for Emirates Airline.
Aboard an A380 flight, the Portuguese star overhears fellow passengers singing the praises of a footballer and assumes they are talking about him – that is until the Brazilian legend appears on the scene.
After Ronaldo realises that fellow passengers are not talking about him, Pelé has a quick chuckle to himself.
A young fan then appears and asks Ronaldo for a photo, handing the camera hastily to Pelé. Ronaldo does get the last laugh however, signing off with his signature wink, which required no acting whatsoever on his part!
Pelé, 73, will play an important ambassadorial role as his home country hosts the World Cup finals this summer. In his native Brazil, he is hailed as a national hero for his accomplishments in football and for his vocal support of policies to improve the social conditions of the poor.
Pelé will also be long remembered for his part in the 1981 WW2 film ‘Escape to Victory’ alongside Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, Bobby Moore and Osvaldo Ardiles.
Some will say that Ronaldo, the Ballon d’Or holder, has had plenty of acting experience on the field-of-play but there is no doubt that his exceptional footballing talents are admired the world over. Having scored all four of his teams goals in a play-off win over Sweden the Portuguese nation will be hoping that Ronaldo will be ‘flying high’ in Brazil in three months’ time.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
